The child's mother confirmed to police that she witnessed her husband hit her son, strike the child's face by throwing a large Tupperware container, throw the child to the ground and kick him in the ribs.

The mother said she feared for the safety of her son, police said.

"I want to say that this youngster was very courageous for reaching out in a time of crisis," Marzocca said.

After Steffee was arrested, he told police he hit his son in the face with a plastic container, tried to make the child mad by flipping his cup and splashing water on him, punched him one or two times in the face and shoulder, grabbed him by the neck and pushed him into the corner of the kitchen, struck the child's head on the counter and stepped on his son when he fell. Steffee blamed his behavior on anger issues, court documents said.

This satellite image obtained from NOAA/RAMMB, shows Hurricane Dorian (R) as it passes Puerto Rico at 11:30 central time on August 29, 2019. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said the hurricane watch and tropical storm warning for the island had been lifted, and that "Dorian continues to move away from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands." Jose Romero, AFP/Getty Images

epaselect epa07800497 Malaysian children wave national flags during an Independence Day celebration rehearsal in Putrajaya, Malaysia, 29 August 2019. Malaysia gained its independence from British colonial rule in 1957, and will celebrate its Independence Day on 31 August. EPA-EFE/AHMAD YUSNI ORG XMIT: AY02 AHMAD YUSNI, EPA-EFE

People work on a wooden statue made to resemble US President Donald Trump in Slovenia, the home country of Trump's wife First Lady Melania Trump on August 28, 2019. The statue is nearly 8 meters tall and was been built on private land. It was designed by Slovenian artist Tomaz Schlegl. Jure Makovec, AFP/Getty Images

Migrants queue upon their arrival at the harbour of Malaga on August 29, 2019, after an inflatable boat carrying 132 migrants was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. Jorge Guerrero, AFP/Getty Images